Born and raised in Washington State, Mary now resides
in Colorado with her husband of over twenty-seven years, three twenty-something kids,
and four pets. She earned her college degree in elementary education and
has taken an advanced course from the Institute of Children's Literature.
Mary leads two critique groups, one in the local Colorado area as well
as an on-line critique group. She regularly attends the ACFW conference as well as her local writing chapter in the Springs, and she has spearheaded a writing contest for youth
for several years. Cascades is her fourteenth book, which contains three previously released
novels.

Q – How and when did
you become a Christian?
A – When I was four, I learned the song Jesus Loves Me in Sunday
School and held onto that promise through rough times in my life. When
I felt like no in the world loved me but Jesus and my mom, I'd sing that
song through tears. At age twelve, the youth group leader at church was
going to have a baptism service and asked if I wanted to be baptized.
I said sure. He said that I needed to become a Christian and accept Jesus
as my personal Lord and Savior. On my knees in the company of half the
youth group, I invited Jesus to be a permanent part of my life. The best
decision of my life.

Q – Family Life?
A – I have been married for over 23 years. I have a wonderful hubby
and three teens; two of them are adults and my baby is 16. (I'm having
a hard time getting over that one.) I have no grandchildren yet but hope
to one day. (Not too soon though.) I am the youngest of four siblings.
I have three parents; Dad, Mom, and Step-Dad. My Step-dad recently passed
away, but I'll see him again in heaven. I still have one living grandparent
in her nineties. "Hi, Grandma!"

Q – What are your hobbies?
A – I love to work with my hands doing crafts. Sewing, quilting,
porcelain doll making, putting together my dollhouse, crocheting, knitting,
as well as reading and sometimes gardening, but I have this black thumb
that doesn't go well with keeping plants alive.

Q – What is your favorite
holiday?
A – As a child my favorite holiday was Christmas for two very good
reasons: no school and lots of presents. Now my favorite holiday is Easter.
Jesus gave the greatest gift of all: salvation. He sacrificed Himself
unto death so I could live forever with Him. His love is so great and
so deep for me that He would do anything to keep me from the jaws of the
enemy. Even if I were the one driving the nails through His flesh, He
still would have died for my sins. It doesn't get any better than that.

Q – How did you get started
in writing?
A – As long as I can remember I have had characters running around in
my head clambering to get out. I loved creative writing in school but
was never very good in English. Sadly, the teacher never chose my stories
to be read aloud but I loved them just the same. It wasn't until my mom
made the comment that I should try to get the story published I had written
for my husband. Of course I thought the idea was nuts, I could never be
a REAL writer, but it got me thinking. Then one thing led to another and
I met Karen Ball who liked my premise for "Newlywed Games" and
the Lord has been blessing me since.

Q – Why do you write?
A – Because I enjoy it and I believe it is the direction the Lord wants
me to go in my life. I also write for sanity sake. With so many people
running around in my head it gets crowded and noisy. The only way to get
rid of them is to write their story whether or not it gets published.

Q – What message would you like
your readers to gain from your fiction?
A – Hope. No matter the mess we make of our life, God can fix it if we
let Him. He is such an awesome and loving God and cares deeply for each
one of us.

Q – What is you favorite Bible
verse?
A – My favorite Bible verse varies with where I am in life. Right now
the verse that speaks to me most is Isaiah 30:8 "Go now, write it
on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come
it may be an everlasting witness." This verse encourages me in my
writing.

Q – What are your writing goals?
A – They are two fold. First, that God will use my writing for His glory.
Second, I love writing romance, both contemporaries and historical, and
will probably have a little romance in most everything I write, but I
would also like to write some mysteries and adventures. And I really want
to co-author with my husband.

Q – What advice would you give
a new writer?
A – Persistence. Don't give up today for God may be planning to bless
you tomorrow and you will miss it. Also get involved in a critique group
and go to writing conferences.